Alice,

Thanks for posting that list. It makes interesting reading, but I suspect that list doesn't pertain to African Americans.

Just a few comments about that lists: The names "Brianna" and "Brittany" were also big in the 1990s or so among African Americans, but I think their popularity has faded.

One African American naming tradition is the first letter conformity among family members. I have a nephew whose pre-teen and teenage daughters are named "Brittany" and Brianna". His sons also have "B" names.

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There's been little mention yet about the role that popular celebrities and television characters play in personal naming traditions.

I believe that I mentioned my theory about the popularity in African American communities of Sean Connery's double 007 role. It's interesting that the name "Sean" and not the name "James" or "James Bond" became the name that was used as a base for so many Shawn names...{I think this goes back to my belief that there is something about the "sh" sound that we [African Americans] like...

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Another celebrity name that haa been used by African American [and other?] males & females is "Jordan"- from Michael Jordan {Michael is too "regular", but it appears that "Jordan" is getting played out because it's getting too much play {being used too often}.


Azizi

btw: I'm slated to teach a Community College continuing ed course this fall on African American naming traditions. This thread will be included in the class's suggested reading list.